Aspen updates plans for climate action

A decade ago, City of Aspen officials identified a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by the year 2020. But, with just three years left on that target, those emissions are down only 7.5 percent. Workers with the Canary Initiative, Aspen’s climate team, are devising a new plan that will identify specific steps to make progress.

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Residential energy use is actually up about 5 percent from the 2004 baseline. Jane Wilch, who works for the city, said preliminary results from a recent survey show that residents are willing to take actions, but cost is still an issue, especially for renters.

“I think that there’s an effort needed to reach out to the property managers, reach out to the building owners and the landlords and work with them,” Wilch said.

The survey is still open, and city staff will be drafting the new climate plan through the summer.